WORCESTRESHIRE County League's top three pulled clear after fourth placed Chaddesley Corbett lost an exciting game at home to Worcester Nomads in the final over.

Chasing 223 to win the visitors left it late but a calm and controlled eighth wicket partnership under pressure between Steve Emson and man of the match Josh Hawes (who had earlier taken 4-27 in the first innings) led the visitors home with two balls to spare.

Chaddesley will rue some poor ground fielding late on but the plaudits must go to the visitors who posted a victory which still leaves them with an outside chance of the top five with six games to go.

Table toppers Bewdley beat Burghill by two wickets on the road and Stourport beat lowly Pedmore by five wickets at Walshes Meadow.

Evesham, who accepted Colwall’s offer to play their home game at Ghost Meadow while their own ground is uplayable, batted well in the first innings to post 249-9 which was enough to secure maximum points by twenty three runs.

Hagley beat Cookley by seven wickets to move back into the top six, level on points with Feckenham who lost to fifth placed Worcester at home.

The title race looks likely to be a three horse race between Bewdley, Stourport and Evesham at the moment as a gap of twenty five points has now opened up to fourth place following Chaddesley's defeat.

In Division Two first XI Dan Jones was the hero for leaders Coombs Wood as he compiled an excellent first innings 89 to help post a first innings total of 171 which proved twenty four runs too many for visitors Bartestree.

Second placed Oldswinford kept up their challenge for the title as Tom Blunt (144) and Owen Williams (100) shook off last week's poor performance by compiling a huge first innings 347-8 at Enville to ensure a comfortable win.

Third placed Belbroughton were defeated in a tight game at Bromyard as Zahid Saeed (92*) and Nick Leighton (72) guided the Herefordshire men to a final over three wickets victory.

In other matches Bredon beat Droitwich by seventeen runs to stay fifth, Himbleton overcame visitors Old Vigornians by three wickets in a high scoring match despite a first innings undefeated century form Richard Geary.

Kempsey leap frogged Wormelow at the foot of the table as they secured a three wicket victory at Plovers Rise thanks to an undefeated 109 from captain Chris Jones.

In Division Three first XI runaway leaders Lye now find themselves sixty points clear at the top following a comprehensive eight wicket home victory against Avoncroft.

Netherton jumped back into second after Simon Oseland (4-33) and Danny Lowe (4-34) dispatched Eastnor for ninety seven in the first innings and win by five wickets.

Alexander Basford (77) top scored for Martley as they posted a first innings total of 274-8 which proved thirty seven runs too many for third placed Rushwick who were dismissed with eight overs remaining, despite another half century from in-form Paul Wyatt (73).

Harborne closed the gap to third as Baldev Raj scored an undefeated 158 to help chase down Malvern's first innings 322-4, Alvechurch were beaten by three wickets at Bromsgrove but stay in fifth and Five Ways beat Hanley Castle by thirty nine runs to stay mid table

In Division Four first XI Jon Preece (80*) inspired leaders Halesowen to a four wicket victory against visitors Claverley who now find themselves in mid division.

Romsley drop to third after they were beaten at Hallow Taverners where Dave Pugh scored155 for the home team to help them post a first innings total of 245 which, despite a century from Adnan Wahid in response, proved too many for the visitors.

Astwood Bank took full advantage of Romsley’s defeat to move back into second place with an eight run victory at Alveley in a high scoring match.

Fourth placed West Malvern lost by five runs at home to Stourbridge, Kidderminster climbed into fifth as experienced opening batsman Craig Wood scored 121 on his season debut for Kidderminster thirds as they beat Himley by a large margin and Tenbury Wells beat basement club Stourport by seven wickets at Penlu.